Abuja

The Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), says the Nigerian Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE), will focus on funding for the development of tourism in the country.

The maiden exhibition of the body which will hold from May 21 to May 22 in Abuja, is expected to feature seminar and exhibition of Nigerian tourism and hospitality destinations.

The National President of the association, Chief Samuel Alabi, told newsmen that the two-day event would address the issue of funding as a vital element in promoting development and maintenance of tourism products and destinations.

He, however, urged the Federal Government to give the tourism sector a commensurate attention given to the oil sector as a way of diversifying the nation’s economy.

Adamawa

The Chairman of Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Malam Mohammed Bako, says that a female police constable  has been killed while three persons in detention were released by gunmen who attacked the Mayo-Belwa Police Station recently.

Bako made the disclosure while touring the scene of attack, saying that the gunmen used Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) in the attack.

“A female police constable, Rahila Azoko, was killed while a policeman was injured during the assault on the Divisional Police Station.

“Three civilians, including a security man, were also injured in the attack on banks.’’

Bauchi

Bauchi State Government has said that it spent about N10 billion to renovate and provide facilities at the Yankari Game Reserve.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Isa Yuguda, Mr Ishola Michael, stated this in Yankari, Bauchi State, while briefing members of the state chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Heads of Media Organisations.

Michael explained that the renovation, which started in 2005 during the tenure of the past administration, had been on-going, adding that the reserve now wore a befitting look.

According to him, when completed, the reserve will be leased out to private organisations or individuals for efficient management that will ensure the recouping of the money spent.

NAWOJ Chairperson in Bauchi, Hajiya Kaltume Shall later told newsmen that heads of media organisations in the state were includd in the programme because of their contribution to the development of journalism.

Benue

A 29-year-old man, Levi Achivin, has been arraigned before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court, charged with illegal possession of firearm and criminal conspiracy.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Omaye Ujata, told the court that an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulsalami Busari, arrested the accused while on patrol along Airforce Base in Makurdi.

Ujata said that Busari handed Achivin over to the State CID where one locally-made pistol and six live ammunitions were found on him.

Ujata said that the accused hails from of Tongov in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue.

During interrogation, the accused admitted committing the offence.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service announced the arrest of 182 illegal aliens in Zaira.

The state Comptroller, Mr. Hamman Abdullahi-Yerima, told journalists shortly after the operation in Zaira, that the raid was to rid the state of illegal immigrants.

The comptroller said that arrangement had been made to repatriate them to their  respective  countries.

Those arrested had neither  valid  travel documents nor entered  Nigeria through  established controlled posts.

Abdullahi-Yerima attributed the influx of aliens to the country’s porous borders, saying thousands of motorcyclists were moving people illegally along the Nigeria/Niger border.

Kano

The Kano State Government has said it spent N238 million on the third batch of mass wedding for 1,000 couples in the state.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso announced this at a reception in honour of the couples held at the Government House in Kano.

Kwankwaso said government came up with the idea after counselling from Islamic clerics.

“They stressed the need to ease the hardship being encountered by the less privileged in the society who are in dire need of marriage.’’

The government gave out N20,000 to each bride to start a small scale business to complement the efforts of their husbands.

Kebbi

The Kebbi  State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KPHDA), has received drugs worth N2.5 million from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency(NPHCDA) to combat outbreak of measles.

The Executive Director of KPHDA, Dr Abubakar Koko, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently that the drugs were distributed to primary healthcare clinics to combat the disease.

He said that the donation of the drugs from the NPHCDA was timely considering the fact that measles outbreak had been recorded, and had resulted into the isolation of victims.

Koko said that health personnel had been deployed to all local government areas of the state to combat the disease.

Kogi

President Goodluck Jonathan has  called on the new Attah-Igala, Idakwo Ameh-Oboni II, to use his reign to bring peace, unity and development to the kingdom and the country.

The president made the call at the inauguration and presentation of first class staff of office to the new Atta Igala in Idah by Goveror  Idris Wada of Kogi State.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, congratulated the monarch, and prayed for his peaceful and successful reign.

Presenting the staff of office to the Attah, Wada said the appointment followed due process and laid down rules, traditions and culture of the people.

Lagos

The Lagos State Taskforce on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, has said that it had sealed about 30 illegal patent medicine stores in the Ajah-Lekki area of the state.

A statement in Lagos by the Lagos State Ministry of Health said that the state government was worried about the dangers posed by illegal drug hawkers.

It quoted the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina as saying that their nefarious activities needed to be urgently curtailed.

The statement alerted members of the public to the risks and dangers of purchasing drugs from hawkers.

“The shops were sealed for offences ranging from sales of drugs without licence from the regulatory authorities, to failure to relocate from a market area/adherence to the mandated distance between a patent medicine shop and the market place, among others.

Nasarawa

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Nasarawa State, Mr Abayomi Akeremale,has enjoined residents to join hands in providing security for lives and property, as it was a collective responsibility.

He stated this when he inaugurated a police post which was upgraded to a Divisional Police Station in Azara, Nasarawa State.

According to Akeremale, various security agencies need the support of all Nigerians in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

He advised the traditional rulers, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and the public to always furnish the police with useful information on activities of suspected criminals.

Akeremale said there was no hiding place for criminals in the state as the command was more determined to track them down and bring them to justice.

Ogun

The Board of Technical and Vocational Skills in Ogun State has advised students in institutions of higher learning to embrace technical and vocational skills.

The Chairperson of the board, Mrs Doyin Ogunbiyi, who gave the advice, said that acquiring skills would prevent students from depending desperately on white collar jobs after graduation.

Ogunbiyi spoke at a seminar organised by the Icon of Change Initiative, a non-governmental organisation at the Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

She said that technical and vocational education was important part of higher education which all students must embrace to live fulfilled life styles.

She said that students should engage themselves in handiwork while in school for them to become useful, noting that the state government was making efforts to give priority to vocational education.

Oyo

The Police in Oyo State have arrested Alhaji Abass Oloko, a former vice-chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) over alleged murder.

The Tide gathered that Oloko was picked up by the police at his house in Ibadan after policemen had laid an ambush for him .

Oloko was arrested in connection with the attempted killing of Chief Ayodele Adigun, a former Secretary to the State Government during the administration of former Governor Rasheed Ladoja.

The Tide learnt that Oloko was also being held in police custody as a suspect in the murder of one of Adigun’s guards on March 26.

Gunmen had invaded Adigun’s Ikolaba residence on March 26 and frantically searched the house for the former SSG.

Adigun was, however, lucky to have escaped unhurt since he was away to Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti State with former governor Rashidi Ladoja to formally inaugurate the state chapter of the Accord Party.

The state command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Olabisi Ilobanefor said that Oloko was under interrogation over the murder of Adigun’s guard.

“We are interrogating him and if he is found culpable, your guess is as good as mine; he will face the music and be charged to court.

Zamfara

The Federal Government has  said that it would soon dredge River Benue up to Yola fringes in Adamawa State.

Information Minister, Labaran Maku announced this at a town-hall meeting in Gusau as part of the on-going Good Governance Tour to Zamfara State.

Maku said the government had concluded arrangement for dredging that would pass through Benue and terminate in Yola.

He stated that the Federal Government had attained 50 per cent in the modern rail line project, which would at the end link up Kano and Abuja through Kaduna.

The minister explained that the tour was aimed at showcasing projects and programmes being executed by the different tiers of government and projecting same to the rest of the world.

While commending the Zamfara Government for ensuring peace in the state, Maku assured that the Federal Government would revive all collapsed dams in the country, open up new ones in Benue and Taraba.